Knitting machine



Nov. 26, 1968 HIROSHI KITAZAWA 3,412,582

KNITTING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 7, 1966 Q m w M m m T m m m vim'in 7 50 L whi 3 m F w Ill G #5 v W H4 7 2 m F i It iw 7b xii w? i111 Nov. 26, 1968 HIROSHI KITAZAWA 3,412,582

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 19% 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Adkosfi/ K/fA 2A WA INVENTOR BY MW:

14 Sheets-Sheet 4 KNITTING MACHINE HIROSHI KITAZAWA Nov. 26, 1968 Filed Feb. 7, 1966 INVENTOR.

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KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1966 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 28 FIG. W1) 2 4 rJkdJ/ AI I IZAUAINVENTOR.

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KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7 1966 14 ts-Sheet r R 27d 3 N INVENTQR. B Hm I M'rAZAh/A W XM 26, 1968 HIROSHI KITAZAWA 3,412,582

KNITTING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 7, 1966 5149 SO U) 44 Q 4 4 3 FIG. IMM) FIG. l4(lV) 44 $0M, 1542 ALUAINVENTQR.

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KNITTING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 7, l96

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KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1966 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 26, 1963 HIROSHI KITAZAWA 3,412,582

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26, 1968 HIROSHI KITAZAWA 3,412,582

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. '7, 1966 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 l (NEEDLE BED) BY MM mfjw United States Patent 3,412,582 KNITTING MACHINE Hiroshi Kitazawa, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan, assignor to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya-slit, Aichiken, Japan Filed Feb. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 525,406 Claims priority, application Japan, Feb. 12, 1965, 40/ 7,933; May 25, 1965, 40/381,027; June 28, 1965, 40/ 38,907; Aug. 7, 1965, 40/ 18,163; Sept. 24, 1965, 40/

16 Claims. (Cl. 66-70) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A knitting machine having a single flat needle bed provided with a plurality of sinker elements and a plurality of needles slidably aligned for movement in the forward and rearward directions between the sinker elements, and an apparatus for transferring loops suspended on selected needles at intervals of one or more needles to needles adjacent the selected needles.

This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines. More particularly, the invention concerns a knitting machine having a single flat needle bed, a large number of sinker elements aligned parallelly in a row at constant intervals across the forward edge of the needle bed in the longitudinal direction thereof, a large number of latch needles similarly aligned in a row alternately between the sinker elements in the needle bed that they can slide forward and return perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the needle bed, and a carriage with cams for accomplishing knitting upon being moved reciprocatingly along the longitudinal directional of the needle bed thereby to actuate the latch needles in succession.

It is an object of the invention to provide a knitting machine, particularly a hand knitting machine, of the type wherein latch needles are used, in which, by appropriately selecting the necessary latch needles, the transfer of loops suspended from said needles to respective adjacent needles is automatically accomplished, whereby openings in the knitted fabric can be accurately formed, and whereby knitting operations such as knitting of laces and lace-form patterns can be easily and practically carried out.

According to the present invention, there is provided a knitting machine having, as its essential features: (1) latch needles which are so adapted and arranged that at least the forward end part of each latch needle can pass over an adjacent sinker element and move relative to an adjacent latch needle; (2) a latch needle actuating carriage which is so mounted across the needle bed that it can slide in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed; and (3) a means provided in said carriage for actuating the latch needles so that certain predetermined latch needles spaced from each other and having one or more needles therebetween can be approached relatively, at least at their forward parts, respectively to adjacent latch needles, each of the two latch needles so caused to approach relatively to undergo relative movement in their sliding direction, thereby causing one of said two latch needles to pass into a needle loop suspended from the other needle, and, at the same time, causing the needle suspending this loop to knock over and be extracted from the loop.

In the practice of the invention, it is possible to form the mechanism for operating the latch needle actuating carriage so that, in order to cause two adjacent latch needles to approach each other, for example, one of two mutually adjacent needles is caused, at least at its forward end part, to move transversely to approach the other nee- 3,412,582 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 die, and so that the latch needle which has so moved is caused to return to its original position between adjacent sinker elements.

Furthermore, as means for causing one of each pair of mutually adjacent latch needles to approach the other, it is possible also to provide in the latch needle actuating carriage a mechanism whereby one of the needles is caused to project beyond the forward ends of the sinker elements, and the forward part of this projecting latch needle is engaged to cause this needle to move in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed and approach the other adjacent latch needle. For causing a certain selected latch needle to approach the mutually adjacent latch needle, it is advantageous to so fabricate this needle that it is elastically flexible at least in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed.

The nature, principle, and details of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed description with respect to preferred embodiments of the invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIGS. 1 through 6, FIGS. 7 through 11, FIGS. 12 through 14, and FIGS. 15 through 20 respectively illustrate first, second, third, and fourth embodirnents of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear view showing a latch needle actuating carriage of the first embodiment of the invention, said carriage being adapted to transfer a yam loop from a latch needle to an adjacent latch needle;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line 29-2.? in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line 3s3s in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial view for explaining the operation of the rotating member 11;

FIG. 5 is a side view, partly in section, of the latch needle actuating carriage shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6(1) through 6(VII), inclusive, are sectional views taken in the planes indicated respectively by lines I through VII, inclusive, in FIGS. 1 through 3 and show successive steps in the loop transfer operation of the latch needles;

FIGS. 6(Ia), 6(IVa) and 6(VIIa) are plan views showing latch needles in positions corresponding respectively to FIGS. 6(1), 6(IV) and 6(VII);

FIG. 7 is a rear view showing a latch needle actuating carriage of the second embodiment of the invention, said carriage being adapted to transfer a yarn loop from a latch needle to the adjacent latch needle;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line 8s8s in FIG. 9;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line 9s9s in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view showing one part of the needle bed;

FIGS. 11(1) through 11(IX), inclusive, are sectional views taken in the planes respectively indicated by lines I through IX, inclusive, in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 and show successive steps in the loop transfer operation of the latch needles;

FIGS. 11(Ia), 11(IIIa) and 11(IXa) are plan views showing latch needles in positions corresponding respectively to FIGS. 11(I), 11(III) and 11(IX);

FIG. 12 is a rear view showing the latch needle operating carriage of the third embodiment of the invention, said carriage being adapted to transfer a yarn loop from at latch needle to an adjacent latch needle;

FIG. 13 is sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line 13s13s in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14(1) through 14(VIII), inclusive, are sectional views taken in the planes respectively indicated by lines I through VIII in FIGS. 12 and 13 and show successive steps in the loop transfer operation of the latch needles;

FIGS. 14(Ia), 14(IVa), 14VIIa), and 14(VIIIa) are plan views showing latch needles in positions corresponding respectively to FIGS. 14(1), 14(IV), 14(VII), and 14(VIII);

FIG. 15 is a rear view of a latch needle actuating carriage of the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the carriage shown in FIG. 15

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line 17s-17s in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line 18s-18s in FIG. 16;

FIGS. 19(0) through 19(11), inclusive, are sectional views taken in the planes indicated respectively by lines a through h, inclusive, in FIGS. 15 and 18 and indicate successive steps in the operation of the needles in the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view indicating one stage of the operation of the needles;

FIGS. 21(a) to 21(h) show the loop transferring operation of an other embodiment according to this invention; and

FIG. 22 is a schematic plan view of the machine according to present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like parts are designated by like reference numera!s and characters. The knitting machine such as shown in FIG. 22 comprises a needle bed 1, a large number of sinkers 3 which are fixed to the needle bed forward edge 2 along the needle bed 1 in such a manner that they are parallelly arranged and are at certain intervals and directed in the direction perpendicu'ar to the longitudinal direction of the needle bed. A large number of latch needles N are arranged between sinkers so as to be forwardly slid and retracted to their original positions, and a knitting carriage KC provided with cams is adapted to operate said latch needles for carrying out the knitting operation when the carriage is slid rightward and leftward along the needle bed in the longitudinal direction thereof. This type of machine is conventional and is well-known. Because, the present invention relates to improvements of said conventional machine, the details of the construction and operation of the machine itself are omitted herein and only the improved parts of the machine will be described below.

Referring to a first embodiment of the present invention, a latch needle operating carriage 4 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is used for transferring a yarn loop from a latch needle to the adjacent latch needle.

The carriage 4 is provided at its sliding side with various cam members C to O, a latch engagement member 5 and other members. The operation and construction of said cam members, latch engagement members and other members will be understood from the following description.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6; among the latch needles N participating in the knitting operation, a needle N suspending a yarn loop and corresponding to a position where an opening is to be made is ad anced slightly relative to the other needles and is t 18 disposed on the needle bed 1 as indicated in FIG .(Ia), said needle bed 1 being provided with a large number of sinkers 3 fixed thereto at the forward edge 2 of the needle bed.

The cam members are formed so that the needle N passes through the needle path x of the carriage 4, and the needle N is prepared for passing through the loop transfer needle path y. The needle N the hook tip of which is projecting beyond the sinker 3 in the position shown in FIG. 6(1) advances in accordance with the inclination of the neede path y to the position indicated in FIG. 6(II), whereupon a latch engagement member 5 extending downwardly from the carriage 4 so as to be disposed at the part beyond the sinker 3 coincides with the rear end of the opened latch a and prevents the loop b caught on the latch from slipping off onto the stem.

The other needle N which was not selected (or not previously advanced as in the case of the needle N advances to the position of FIG. 6(II) in accordance with the needle path x, where the forward end of its hook projects very slightly beyond the sinker 3.

From the position of FIG. 6(II), the needle N advances sideways in accordance with the needle path y. At this time, the forward end of the needle N is progressively raised by a cam 7 provided on an overhanging arm 6 fixed to the forward part of the carriage 4 to confront the sinker 3, whereby the needle N becomes inclined as shown in the position of FIG. 6(III), being raised slightly higher than the upper end of the sinker 3 in preparation for passing over the sinker. The latch engagement member 5, in coincidence with the inclination of the cam 7, permits the needle N to be thus raised. Furthermore, at the position of FIG. 6(III), a holding leaf spring 8 for pressing the needle N downwardly contacts this needle.

The carriage 4 is provided with a rotating shaft 9 which is insta'led in approximate alignment with the line of the carriage 4 as shown in FIG. 6(III). A gear 10 fixed to one end of said shaft 9 is caused, as the carriage 4 travels, to mesh with the needle slot of the needle bed 1 and forcibly rotate the shaft 9 in one direction. On the other end of the shaft 9, there is fixed a rotating member 11 from which pressing pins 12 for forcibly pressing only the raised needles N in the rotational direction thereof protr-ude outwardly. The pin 12 presses the needle N which has arrived at the position of FIG. 6(III) in the direction opposite to the direction of advance of the carriage 4. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 4, the forward part of this needle passes over the sinker 3 and, moreover, as indicated on line IV in FIG. 1, quickly drops into the stepped low part 7a of the sum 7, being assisted by the downward force of the pressing leaf spring 8, whereby the needle N is superposed in a crossed state over the adjacent needle N and cannot return to its original position between the adjacent sinkers 3. As a result, the loop 11 caught in the latch a of the needle N confronts the extreme end of the hook of the needle N; and opens its eye.

The needle N which is caused by the advance cam to advance from the vicinity of the position of FIG. 1(III) along the inclined forward advance part of the needle path x advances to approximately the tuck position in the vicinity of the position of FIG. 6(V) and is inserted through the eye of the loop 12 caught on the needle N The latch engagement member 5 which has been suppressing the passing of the loop 12 over the latch in the positions of FIGS. 6(11) and 6(III) is not present in the position of FIG. 6(IV) and subsequent positions. Instead, in the positions of FIGS. 6(IV) and 6(V), a brush wheel 13 for holding the knitted fabric contacts the forward part of the loop 11 so as to cause the loop to retreat. Consequently, the loop b caught on the needle N moves back slightly and is transferred from the latch or onto the stern.

Between the position of (V) and (VI) of FIG. 1, an upward projection 7b of the cam 7 is provided following the low part 7a, and, moreover, the loop transfer needle path y is in the retracted position because of the guiding effect of a centre cam. Consequently, the needle N is caused by the upward projection 71) to be raised again to a level higher than that of the sinker 3 and, as it is so supported, retracts in accordance with the needle path y to the position of the FIG. 6(VI). The other needle N is caused by the needle path x traversing directly across the lower surface cut-out of the centre cam and by a cut-out 7c formed in the lower surface of the upward projection 7b of the cam 7 to pass to the vicinity of the position of FIG. 6(VII), to be described hereinafter, without changing the advance position at approximately the tuck position. That is, the needle N with the loop maintained in the positional state on the tip of the latch of the open hook, travels through the needle bed up to a point near the position of FIG. 6(VII).

Since the needle path y is caused to retreat by a retreat cam at a point after the position of the FIG. 6(VI), needle N guided by this needle path retracts from the needle bed forward edge 2 and completely casts off the loop 12 from the back of the latch a. Simultaneously, the needle N disengages from the upward projection 7b of the cam 7 and is caused by the elastic energy stored therein when it passed over the sinker 3 to return to its original position between sinkers. Thus, the loop 11 is transferred completely into the hook of the needle N Whereupon the automatic loop transfer is completed as shown in FIG. 6(VIIa).

There may be some instances wherein the needle N immediately upon moving onto the upward projection 76 in the vicinity of the position of FIG. 6(VI), is caused by the elastic energy stored therein to return over the previously passed over sinker 3 thereby to return to its original position between its adjacent sinkers. In such a case, however, the loop [7 is stretched between both needles N and N and is spread, so that complete loop transfer occurs in the vicinity of position of FIG. 6(VII).

Since the needle paths x and y become confluent at a point after the position of FIG. 6(VII), the needle N still holding the loops b and in its hook, retreats to a position near the needle 'bed forward edge 2, while the needle N which has cast off the loop [2 moves slightly forward and assumes approximately the same position of alignment.

Referring to FIGS. 7 through 11, inclusive, showing the second embodiment of the invention, the arrangement of the latch needles N and N in the needle bed 1 is the same as that in the example illustrated in FIGS. l6, and the essential features thereof are shown in FIGS. 7 and 11(Ia). The needle N passes along a needle path x of a carriage 24, and the needle N is caused to pass along a loop transfer needle path y.

As shown in FIG. 11(1), the needles N and N which have entered the needle paths x and y advance and assume their respective positions shown in FIG. 11(II), the needle N being so positioned that the rear end of its open latch a is approximately at the same position as the sinker 3 thereby to hold the loop b and prevent it from slipping onto the stem.

During the advance from the position of FIG. 11(II) to the position of FIG. 11(III), the forward end of the needle N is progressively raised by a cam 27 provided on an overhanging arm 26 fixed to the carriage 24, being inclined at its forward part as shown so that it is slightly higher than the upper end of the sinker 3, and thereby being readied for passing over the sinker.

Needle guide slots 25, formed in the needle bed 1 for passing each pair of adjacent needles N and N are connected by an intercommunicating slot 25a as shown in FIG. 10. When, at the position of FIG. 11(III), the needle N is in the raised position as described above, it is in a state wherein it is capable of entering the intercommunicating slot 25a.

Past the position of FIG. 11(III), since a brush 28 makes contact and becomes a resistance member, the needle N is pushed in the direction of travel of the carriage 24 and, passing over the sinker 3, is superposed diagonally above the adjacent needle N as sh.own'in FIG. 11(IIIa). Successively thereafter, the descending inclination 27a of the cam 27 in the interval from the position of FIG. 11(III) to the position of FIG. 11(IV) causes the needle N to descend as indicated in FIG. 11(IV), the needle N thereby being so positioned that the loop b caught on its latch a is in a position confronting the tip of the hook of the needle N similarly as in the case of the aforedescribed embodiment of the invention.

The advance of the needle path y in the interval between the positions of FIGS. 11(IV) and 11(V) causes the needle N to advance slightly. At the same time, a brush wheel 33 contacts the knitted fabric and pushes the loop b back toward the needle bed forward edge 2.

Consequently, the lop b is cast ofl? positively from 'the latch a and is transferred onto the stem.

Since, in the interval from the position of FIG. 11(V) to the position of FIG. 11(VI), the needle path x is caused by an advance cam to advance, the needle N advances as the loop b is held by the brush wheel 33, and the forward end of its hook passes through the eye of the loop [2 caught on the needle N Throughout the interval from the position of the FIG. 11(III) through the position of FIG. 11(VI), the brush 28 continuously exerts a sideward force on the needle N In the interval from the position of FIG. 11 (VI) through the position of FIG. 11(VII), the upward projection 27b causes the needle N to rise to a position slightly higher than the sinker 3 similarly to the position of FIG. 11(III). In the interval from the position of FIG. 11(VII) through the position of FIG. 11(VIII), the needle N is lowered by a triangular cam 270 provided on the upward projection of 27b of the cam 27, and, at the same time, the resistance of the triangular cam 270 causes the forward part of the needle N to return over the previously passed over sinker 3 in the direction opposite to that of the travel of the carriage 24, thereby returning to its original position between its adjacent sinkers 3. The other needle N is again guided in advancing movement by the needle path x and thereby caused to advance toward a cut-out part 27d provided on the lower surface of the upward projection 27b of the cam 27.

Then, as described hereinabove, the retraction of the needle N and the advance of the needle N cause the hook of the needle N to pass through the eye of the loop caught on the needle N and, at the same time, the latch a of the needle N is closed by the loop b whereby the needle N is readied for casting off the loop b The triangular cam 270, in actual effect, imparts a guiding action as indicated by chain line in FIG. 7 with respect to the needle path y.

In the interval between the position of FIG. 11(VIII) and the position of FIG. 11(IX), the needle path is caused to retreat by the guiding effect of a retreat cam, and the needle N is retracted rearwardly from the sinker 3, whereby the loop b is cast off forwardly from the back of the latch a of the needle N At substantially the same time, the needle N disengages from the upward projection 27b of the cam 27, and the forward part thereof is returned to the normal state from the raised state of the position of FIG. 11(VI) and thereafter. Consequently, the loop b together with the loop b is caught within the hook of the needle N whereupon a full loop transfer is completed as indicated in FIG. 11(IXa), Thereafter, the confluence of the needle paths x and y cause both needles N and N to be aligned is substantially the same positions.

Referring to FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 showing the essential construction and arrangement of the third embodiment of the invention, each of the latch needles N is provided with an engagement part Na formed on its stern slightly to the rear of the tip of the opened latch a as shown. The selection of certain needles from among the needles N to produce the arrangement of N and N is the same as that in the aforedescribed first embodiment of the invention.

The needles N and N which have entered the needle paths x and y from the position shown in FIG. 14(I) respectively advance to their positions shown in FIG. 14(II) The advance of the needle N causes its loop [1 to be shifted from its latch a onto its stem and be caught by the engagement part Na, whereby the loop b is drawn forwardly. At the same time, the forward part of the needle N is raised slightly above the sinker 3, similarly to the first embodiment of the invention, by a cam 47 on an overhanging arm 46 of the carriage 44.

As the needles advance from the position of FIG. 14(II) to the position of FIG. 14(III), the combination of a rotating shaft 49, a gear 50, a rotating member 51, a pressing pin 52 on the rotating member 51, and a pressing wire spring 48 having the same function as equivalent parts in the first embodiment of the invention operate to push the needle N in the direction opposite to that of the travel of the carriage 44, whereby the needle N passes over the sinker 3 and is superposed over the adjacent needle N Since the end of the cam 47 is simultaneously reached, the needle N descends as shown in FIG. 14(IV), being assisted by the pressing wire spring 48, and crosses over the needle N thereby positioning the eye of the loop b immediately in front of the forward end of the hook of the needle N in preparation for loop transfer.

In the interval from position of FIG. 14(IV) to position of FIG. 14(V), the needle N is guided by the needle path x and passes its hook end through the eye of the loop b and, simultaneously, assumes an advanced position which is slightly rearward of that of the needle N thereby shifting the loop I); which it held previously from the latch a onto the stem. The other needle N moves onto a cam 54 provided on an overhanging arm 46 in correspondence with the forward part of the advanced end of the needle N and is thus prepared for being again raised. The action of the brush wheel 53 (FIG. 12) is the same as the brush wheel 13 in the case of the first embodiment of the invention.

In the interval from position of FIG. 14(V) through position of FIG. 14(Vl), only the needle N is caused by the needle path x to retract slightly and causes the loop b to be inapproximate engagement with the rear end of the opened latch a in preparation for the closing movement thereof. The other needle N is raised by the inclination of a cam 54 to a position slightly higher than the sinker 3 similarly to the position of the FIG. 14(II). Then, at the same time that it is thus raised, the needle N is caused by the elastic energy stored therewithin to return over the previously passed over sinker 3 and thereby to return to its original position between its adjacent .sinkers.

Then, when the end of the cam 54 is reached in the position of the FIG. 14(VII), the needle N has descended to the same height as the needle N and the loop b is disposed across the stem to the rear of the latch a of the needle N and the interior of the hook of the needle N as indicated in FIG. 14 (VlIIa) In the interval from position of FIG. 14(VII) through position of FIG. 14(VIII), since the needle paths x and y become confluent, the needles N and N retract simultaneously to the rear part of the sinker 3. The needle N casts off the loop b from the back of the latch a, and, at the same time, the needle N casts off the loop from the back of the latch a as the hook of the needle N holds the loop b As a result, the loop b is passed under and through the loop b thereby to form a new knitting loop c.

Referring to FIGS. 15 through 20, inclusive, the example of the knitting machine according to the invention shown therein is provided with a needle bed 1, along whose forward edge there are parallelly aligned a row of a large number of sinkers 3, between which there are alternately aligned latch needles N capable of sliding in their forward and rearward directions. Each of the needles N is so guided by a needle guide slot 62 provided at the forward part of the needle bed 1 and has a shape which is sufiiciently great in the vertical direction that the forward part of said needle can move upwardly to a height higher than the upper ends of the above mentioned sinkers 3. Furthermore, the forward part of each needle N can be shifted over an adjacent sinker 3, against the elastic force of the needle itself, to be inserted into a position between the neighbouring sinkers needles on one side thereof.

The needle bed 1 is further provided at its forward part with a needle holder 63 made of an elastic material such as sponge rubber which engages from above the stems of all needles N and constantly presses downwardly on all needles N so as to hold them in their downward positions. Across the upper surface of the needle bed 1, a latch needle actuating carriage 64 is so mounted as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the needle bed.

The carriage 64 has on its reverse side a rear partition wall 65, which extends along the length of the carriage 64 forward of a rear non-knitting passage which permits the passage of the batts of non-knitting needles at the most rearward position of the needle bed. A front partition wall 66 is disposed forward of the rear partition wall 65 and extends along the length of the carriage 64 forward of the position to which the batts B of the needles N of a needle selection position F are guided and introduced, the position F being advanced up to a position immediately forward of that for latch extraction from the knitting preparation position E advanced forward of the most rearward position of the needle bed. A triangular cam 67 projecting rearwardly is provided at approximately the centre part of the wall 66.

In symmetrical arrangement on the left and right sides of the triangular cam 67 and between the rear partition wall 65 and front partition wall 66, there are provided retraction cam members 63, 68 for producing retreating motion. At the outermost parts at the left and right ends of the carriage 64, there are provided needle dividing cams 69, 69 for dividing the needles N at the knitting preparation position E and the needle selection position F. At three places on each side, namely, outer parts near the needle dividing cams 69, 69, intermediate parts inside thereof, and innermost parts, there are formed, respectively, outer retraction cams 70, 70, intermediate retraction cams 71, 71, and inner retraction cams 72, 72.

Advancing earns 73, 73, are provided between the retraction earns 68, 68 and the rear partition wall 65. On the outer sides of the advancing cams 73, 73, there are formed outer advancing cams 74, 74 for engaging with the batts B of the needles N at the knitting preparation position E and causing the needles N to advance to the position immediately forward of that for latch disengagement thereby to guide and introduce the needles to the outer retraction cams 70, 70. On the inner sides of the outer advancing cams 74, '74, there are formed inner advancing earns 75, 75 for causing the needles N which have been caused to retract by the outer retraction cams 70, 70 to advance slightly again and guiding and introducing the needles N to the intermediate retraction cams 71, 71.

By the above described cam arrangement, the batts B of the knitting needles N at the knitting preparation position E are guided on the path designated by line GG as shown in FIG. 15, while the batts B of thencedles N at the needle selection position F are guided on the path designated by line J-J. In the path GG, there there are provided needle pressing cams 76, 76 which project downwardly and function to engage with the upper part of the batts B of the needles N and press and hold the needles N in a low position.

Along the forward part of the carriage 64, there is formed a channel part 77 which has an open side facing rearwardly. On the left-hand and right-sides on the upper surface of the lower flange part 77a of this channel part 77, there are provided needle lifting cams 78, 78 of approximately S shape, and inclined parts 78a, 78a sloping downwardly are formed on the outer sides of the cams 78, 78. Furthermore, on the inner sides of the cams 78, 78, there are formed cut-out parts 78b, 78b which are substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the lower flange part 770, and which, engaging with the forward parts of the needles N guided and introduced into the path 1-], lift the forward parts of the needles to a position slightly above the upper ends of the aforementioned sinkers 3.

Auxiliary needle lifting cams 7 9, 79 are provided at positions rearward of and slightly inside of the needle lifting cams 78, 78. Downwardly sloping inclined parts 79a, 79a and 79b, 79b are formed outside and inside of the cams 79, 79 and, engaging with the forward parts of the needles guided and introduced into the path GG, lift said for- 9 ward parts slightly, whereby the difference in height of the forward parts of the latch needles lifted by the auxiliary needle lifting cams 79, 79 and those of the latch needles lifted by the needle lifting cams 78, 7 8 is made small thereby to prevent slack in the loops on latch needles lifted by the needle lifting cam 78, 78.

Needle raising cams 80, 80 are provided inside of the auxiliary needle lifting cams 79, 79 and function to raise again the knitting needles N which, having disengaged from the needle lifting earns 78, 78, are positioned on the auxiliary needle lifting cams 79, 79 and have been guided and introduced into the path J] to a position above the upper ends of the sinkers 3.

The above described needle lifting earns 78, 78, the auxiliary needle lifting cams 79, 79, and needle raising cams 80, 80 are fabricated integrally from a single sheet of steel.

Needle actuating cams 81, 81 are fixed on the left and right sides on the rear surface of the Web part 77b of the channel part 77 and, engaging with the forward parts of the needles N which have been lifted by the needle lifting earns 78, 78 and are in the path JJ, function to shift said forward parts, as the carriage base plate 64 is shifted, forcibly in the same direction.

When the forward parts of the needles N shifted by the needle actuating earns 81, 81 pass over the tips of the adjacent needles N in the path GG on the side in the direction of travel of the carriage as indicated in FIG. 20, the shifted needles N are caused by the cut-out parts 78b, 78b of the needle lifting earns 78, 78 to disengage from the needle lifting cams 78, 78 and move downwardly, thereby disengaging from the needle actuating earns 81, 81 and stopping in the disengaged position. That is, there is constituted a disengaging mechanism which, through the action of the cut-out parts 78b, 78b of the needle lifting cams 78, 78, causes the needles N to disengage from the needle actuating earns 81, '81. The needles N which have been disengaged by this disengaging mechanism from the needle actuating cams 81, 81 engage at their forward parts with the hooks of respectively adjacent needles N in the path GG and assume the coupled position as indicated in FIG. 19(d).

An elastic plate 82 is fixed to the lower surface of the upper horizontal part of the carriage 64 at its forward part. Until the needles which have been guided in the path JJ disengage from the needle lifting earns 78, 78, the elastic plate 82 is engaged with the lower part of the opened latches of these needles N and lifts said latches slightly, thereby holding the needle loops K suspended from the upper parts of the opened latches of the needles N and preventing said loops from being pushed behind the latch. Furthermore, while the elastic plate 82 is preventing the loops from being pushed behind the latch as stated above, it is constantly pressing the said needles N downwardly and, in cooperation with the aforementioned needle holder 63, compels these needles to descend when they disengage from the needle lifting cams 78, 78.

The needle loop transfer mechanism of the above described arrangement and construction according to FIGS. 15 to 20 operates in the following manner.

First, by means of a known needle selection device in general use, a large number of latch needles N are selectively divided into needles N the knitting preparation position E and needles N the needle selection position F in the ratio of, for example, one to one, and needle loops K suspended from the needles N are transferred to the respectively neighbouring needles N That is, in order to transfer a needle loop K toward the right as indicated in FIG. 19, the carriage 64 is moved in sliding motion from left to right toward the selectively separated group of the needles, that is, in the direction of the arrow M shown in FIGS. 15, 19((1), and 20.

The operation of the knitting machine will be further described hereinafter with particular reference to FIGS. 19(a) through 19(11), inclusive, and FIG. 20. FIGS. 19(a) through 19 (h), inclusive, indicate the needle loop transfer operation of the needles as viewed in sections resulting from cutting the carriage 64 along the lines a through h shown in FIGS. 15 and 18. FIG. 19(a) shows the disposition of latch needles at the time when latch needles are selectively separated.

As the carriage 64 is moved from position a and reaches position b, the knitting needle N is caused by the outer advancing cam 74 to advance to a position slightly to the rear of the position immediately before the loops are pushed behind the latch. At the same time, the outer inclined part 79a of the auxiliary needle lifting cam 79 causes the forward part of the needle N to begin to lift slightly against the elastic force of the needle holder 63. Similarly, the needle N is caused by the needle lifting cam 78 to be lifted against the elastic force of the needle holder 63 to a position above the upper end of the sinkers 3.

Then, as the carriage 64 is moved from position b to position 0, the needle N is lifted by the auxiliary needle lifting cam 79, and, at the same time, the tip of the needle N in caused by the outer retracting cam 70 to retract until it is positioned in alignment with the line of the sinkers 3. On one hand, the needle N having been lifted by the needle lifting cam 78 and sustained by the action of the elastic plate 82 in the state immediately before the loops are pushed behind the latch, engages with the needle actuating cam 81.

When, by the travel of the carriage 64, the position d is reached from position 0, the knitting needle N is maintained in the above described state, but the forward part of the needle N is forcibly caused by the needle actuating cam 81 to shift in the direction of travel of the carriage. The needle N thereupon assumes the position shown in FIG. 20 and, immediately thereafter, is disengaged from the needle lifting cam 78 by the action of the disengaging mechanism, that is, by the cut-out part 78b of the needle lifting cam 78. At the same time, the needle N disengages from the needle actuating cam 81 and is stopped in its shifted position and, morerover, is caused by the effect of the needle holder 63 and the elastic plate 82 to engage with the side of the hook of the needle N on the side of the carriage travel direction and be superposed above the needle N as shown. At this time, the needle N is elastically pressed in contact with the sinker 3 by the elastic force of the needle N urging it to return to its original position between adjacent sinkers 3. Further more, the forward end of the knitting needle N is positioned to the rear of the needle loop K suspended from the needle N As the carriage 64 continues to move and the position changes from a to e, the needle N is caused by the inner advancing cam 75 to advance, whereupon its forward end passes through the needle loop suspended from the needle N and advances. At the same time, the needle N disengages from the auxiliary needle lifting cam 79 and descends to a lower position, while the needle N still engaged with the needle N is maintained in a state of immobility in the forward-rearward direction.

As the travel of the carriage 64 is further continued from position e to position f, the needle N at its advanced position due to the inner advancing cam 75, is forcibly pressed by the action of the needle pressing cam 76 which engages with the batt of the needle N to the lower part of the needle bed. During this operation, the needle N is caused by the needle raising cam 80 to rise to a position higher than the upper ends of the sinkers 3. At this time, the needle N is forcibly disengaged from the needle N which has been forcibly pressed downwardly. At the same time the rising movement of the needle N is transmitted through the needle loop K to the needle N which is thereby urged to rise together with the needle N but is prevented from thus rising by the needle pressing cam 76. The needle N which has been raised by the needle raising cam 80 is automatically returned by the force due to the elastic energy stored therein to its original position between adjacent sinkers, the needle loop K still being suspended from the needle N as it is maintained in the position immediately before being pushed behind the latch.

Then, as the carriage 64 travels further and the position changes from f to g, the needle N is caused by the intermediate retracting cam 71 to retract its tip to a position rearward of the sinker 3, that is, to approximately the knitting preparation position E. At the same time, the needle loop K is caught on the hook of the needle N During this operation since the needle N is placed in an immobile state, and only the needle N retracts, the needle loop K is stretched, whereby the needle loop K is pushed behind the latch from the knitting needle N and is shifted onto the needle stem.

With further travel of the carriage 64 to change the position from g to k, the needle N is maintained in the above described state, while the needle N is caused by the triangular cam 67 and the inner retracting cam 72 of the other retraction cam 68 to retract to the knitting preparation position E in a manner similar to that of the needle N At this time, the needle loop K is removed from the needle N and is transferred to the needle N By successively carrying out transfers of the needle loops in the above described manner, and then carrying out knitting by means of a carriage of a known type for ordinary knitting, it is possible to produce knitted fabrics with openings, that is, lace knitted fabrics.

Conversely, when it is desired to transfer the needle loop K in the left direction, oppostie to that described above, a large number of latch needles N are selectively separated as described hereinbefore, and then the carriage 64 is moved from right to left, that is, in the direction opposite to that of the arrow M shown in FIGS. 15, l9(a), and 20, whereby the same operation and result as described above can be obtained.

As a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible to obtain the shifting and approaching action of a pair of mutually adjacent latch needles also by the use of a latch needle actuating carriage such as that illustrated as one example in FIGS. through 20, inclusive, in the manner indicated in FIG. 21. More specifically, of two mutually adjacent latch needles N and N of a pair to be caused to undergo mutual movement, the needle N to be shifted, at least at its hook end part, is first raised from the position shown in FIG. 21(a) to that of FIG. 2(b), and then the needle N is passed through the position shown in FIG. 21(0) and transferred to the position of FIG. 21(d). Thereafter, the needle is returned through the positions of FIG. 21(e), (f), and (3), thereby causing it to retreat to assume the position shown in FIG. 21(11).

When the shifting, approaching, and relative movements of the pair of mutually adjacent latch needles are being carried out to form an opening in the knitted fabric, the needle loop K suspended from one latch needle which has been shifted is positioned to confront forward end of the other adjacent needle. Accordingly, this adjacent needle is in a state wherein it can positively pass through said needle loop, whereby the needle loop transfer operation can be accomplished in a very accurate manner.

In the above described case, by arranging and constructing the mechanism for operating the latch needle actuating carriage so that only when the latch needle carrying the needle loop positions its loop to confront the tip part of the adjacent needle and, after insertion of this adjacent needle in the loop, returns to its original position between sinker elements while still holding the loop, the relative movement in tthe sliding direction of this needle and loop is produced, the durability of the needle bed and the mechanism for producing the above described sliding movement is substantially increased, and, moreover, the carriage can be caused to slide smoothly.

Furthermore, in some cases when the needle N is to be shifted to the position shown in FIG. 21(d), difficulty is encountered in bringing the loop K suspended therefrom to a position accurately confronting the mutually adjacent needle N This difficulty can be simply and effectively overcome by providing in the needle actuating carriage a needle raising cam for raising at least the forward hook part of the non-shifting needle N For this needle raising cam, members 78 and 79 in the example illustrated in FIGS. 15 through 20, inclusive, can be utilized.

As disclosed above with respect to embodiments, the present invention provides a knitting machine of latch needle type arranged and constructed to accomplish an operation comprising: moving at least the forward part of one of two adjacent latch needles from its normal advance-retreat path; moving said forward part to a position between the sinker elements above the other latch needle by passing it over a sinker element thereby to cause the two needles to be superposed at least at the forward parts of said needles; at the same time, causing a loop suspended from said one needle to confront the front part of the front end of the book of said other needle; causing the two needles to undergo forward and rearward movements to transfer the loop suspended on said one needle to said other needle; simultaneously extracting said one needle from its loop, thus completing loop transfer in a completely automatic manner and further causing said one needle to return to its original position between adjacent sinkers.

The above described series of operational steps of the two latch needles can be accomplished merely by selecting one of the latch needles by means of a needle selecting means as described with respect to the embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the present invention provides a knitting machine wherein loop transfer between adjacent needles to form an opening in the knitted fabric is facilitated and made accurate, and whereby knitting such as lace knitting and knitting of lace patterns is greatly facilitated.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only preferred embodiments of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A knitting machine comprising in combination:

a needle bed;

a plurality of sinker elements aligned in a row and at equal intervals across the forward edge of the needle bed in the longitudinal direction thereof;

a plurality of latch needles aligned in a row in said needle bed and positioned alternately between the sinker elements and slidable forwardly and rearwardly in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said needle bed;

a knitting carriage having a cam mechanism thereon engaging said latch needles for accomplishing a knitting operation movable reciprocatably along the needle bed in the longitudinal direction thereof to actuate the latch needles in succession;

a latch needle actuating carriage mounted on said needle bed and slidable thereon in the longitudinal direction thereof;

a further cam mechanism attached to said needle actuating carriage engaging the latch needles for causing predetermined latch needles spaced at intervals of at least one needle from among said latch needles to move relative to the remaining latch needles so that at least at their forward end parts approach adja-- cent latch needles;

means on said latch needle actuating carriage for shifting at least the forward end part of each of the predetermined latch needles laterally relative to an ad- 

